Educating Students on Dangers of Binge Drinking

"Not This Weekend" is Feb. 6-10 event promoting healthy choices.

Mankato, Minn. – Several Minnesota State University, Mankato departments and offices and two Mankato-area restaurants are holding a four-day event called “Not This Weekend” from Feb. 6-10 that is intended to reduce or eliminate binge drinking in students during the 96-hour weekend event.

The goal of the event, which begins at noon on Thursday, Feb. 6 and ends at noon on Monday, Feb. 10, is to reduce or eliminate binge drinking in students during the 96-hour weekend event.

Students participating in the event have been asked to sign a pledge that they will abstain from alcohol use during the event and wear a “Not This Weekend” button while participating in various campus events and activities intended to promote healthy choices.

Students signing the pledge will receive a schedule of events and information from participating area restaurants. By wearing their button and attending highlighted campus events, participants can be entered in contests to win a variety of prizes and can also take advantage of various restaurant specials.

“Not This Weekend” is sponsored by Student Health Services, Residence Hall Association, Campus Recreation, and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at Minnesota State University, Mankato as well as local restaurants Pub 500 and Buffalo Wild Wings.

For more information about “Not This Weekend,” contact Katelyn Anderson by email at katelyn.anderson@mnsu.edu or by phone at 507-389-3239.

Minnesota State University, Mankato Student Health Services provides quality and affordable medical services and health education to university students to enhance their learning experience and support their academic success.

Each fall for the past 11 years, Minnesota State Mankato’s Student Health Services has held a mock “House Party” that is intended to educate students on the dangers of high-risk drinking.

Events such as the mock “House Party” and “Not This Weekend” are among the various health education and outreach initiatives scheduled by Student Health Services each year to promote the optimal health of students on the university campus.

Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive university with 15,409 students, is part of the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system, which comprises 31 state institutions.